AMERICA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 36, 26 December 1861, Page 4

AMERICA.

SIEGE OF LEXINGTON,

The surrender of Lexington to the Confederate forces was the principal, .military incidents of the month in Missouri. It took place on the 20th September. The following is the despatch announcing it:—" The subjoined account of the siege of Lexington is furnished to the " St. Louis Eepublican " by Henry Bradbura, one of Colonel Mulligan's soldiers, who left Lexington on the morning of the 21st: —'The fort was surrendered on Friday afternoon. The men fought for 59 hours without water, and had only three. barrels of vinegar to quench their thirst. During all that time there were no springs or wells, of water in the camp ground as has been stated. The supply of water was entirely from the river. There were breastworks all around the camp, with the exception of the portion next the river. It was here that the hardest fighting took place. The rebels procured a large number of hemp bales, and rolled them in advance, and under their cover gradually succeeded - in securing a position in the rear. They then cut off the supply of water, and had the fort completely surrounded. They made but few charges upon the breastworks during the entire siege. Their object seemed to be to surround the fort and cut ofF the supply of water, and having succeeded in this, they awaited until Colonel Mulligan was compelled to yield to a, foe more terrible than the 27,000 Confederates who surrounded him. Previous to his surrcruler he oii'eiv-* -o Liikt' a posiliou en a level «]_)■;;■ c ground

and give General Price the odds of four to one in a fair and open fight, but no attention was paid to it. After the surrender, the rebels mounted the breastworks, and seemed mad with joy and delight. As soon as the surrender took place, they took down the national flag and trailed it in the dust. An immense amount of gold, abowt a million-and-a-half of dollars, fell into the possession of the rebels. It was taken from the banks and buried by Colonel Mulligan in the camp ground some time ago, but the rebels speedily discovered and unearthed it. Colonel Mulligan wept like a child when he found himself compelled to surrender. The morning after the surrender the men were all released on parole, and ferried across the river. The officers were retained. The loss of the rebels is not known, but it is thought to be no less than 1000 killed and wounded. The first attack of the rebels proved more disastrous to them than the long siege which followed.' ; For a day or two previous'to the last attack they were engaged in burying their dead." The Confederates have since evacuated Lexington ; but they continue to experience the moral effects of their success, not to speak of the enlivening influence produced by the immense amount of booty they carried off.